Why a rubber contact wheel?

S

Spencer Stewart

Joined
Oct 3, 1998
Messages
115
I've got my ideas but I'm having a hard time convincing a friend of mine that practically grew up in a metal shop that a belt grinder for knives needs to have a rubber contact wheel.

Spencer
 
I have worked with several different types of contact wheels, wood, wood leather covered, cloth sewn and cloth airway buffs.

None of these have the edge control of rubber wheels when grinding the shoulders at the ricasso. The other types of wheel are designed to reduce the possibility of cutting into the blade with the edge of the belt when belt polishing the blade.

I was in the Grohman factory last week and saw them finishing the blades on wooden wheels covered with walrus hide. It does a beautiful satin finish when coated with emory dust and glue.

I can't imagine using harder contact wheels such as plastic or metal because they tend to chatter when the belt splice goes over them.

What was your metal working friend suggesting as a contact wheel material?

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george
www.tichbourneknives.com
sales@tichbourneknives.com

 
re: in reply to george tichbourne

Can you tell me what page in the MSC Supplies Catalog, those walrus hide buffing
wheels are sold on? Yow!

Sorry I just could not resist.

/tjb
 
I asked about them but it seems that the wheels are easy to come by but the walrus hide is simply not available unless you know an eskimo who hunts and tans walrus hides.

I could not believe the thickness of the hide hanging on the wall, about 3/4" thick.
Mike said that he didn't know what will happen when he runs out, last time they ran out someone just happened to have a spare hide.

If anyone out there has a spare walrus hide give the Grohman people a call.



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george
www.tichbourneknives.com
sales@tichbourneknives.com

 
He thinks the reason I want a rubber contact wheel is so the belt will not slip. He figures a gnurled aluminum wheel will do fine.

I ran out of arguments, and he likes to argue.

Thanks so far for what you've said.

Spencer Stewart
 
An alu wheel will chatter like crazy. If your friend like thinks he can hollow grind a knife on an alu wheel you should make bet with him that he can't do it! Might be a good way to get a few rounds of free beer.

I think a serrated rubber wheel is good for first, rough grinding and a solid rubber cover wheel is good for final grinding after the heat treating and tempering.



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www.wilkins-knives.com


 
Thank for the words fellas...I may have to take him up on that bet, but the prize would be tools for me.
smile.gif


Spencer
 
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